Cemetery tent



1,642,648 J. M. DODDRIDGE Sept. 13, 1927.

CEMETERY TENT Filed July 51,1925

Janus /ll.

Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES M. DODDRIDGE,

01 vMmrou, nmmna.

CEMETERY TENT.

Application filed July 31.

The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is the provision of a'tent enclosure, for use in connection with interments in cemeteries, whereby the friends viewing the interment will be protected from unfavorable climatic conditions, and at thesame time providing means whereby the earth which isremoved to form the grave will be entirely hidden during the interment; also that the removed earth will be prevented from damaging the grass where it is placed, that is preventing the dirt from coming into cont-act with the grass around or near the grave; and to prevent the removed earth from becoming wet from rain or snow before it is returned to the grave, that is during the time it is removed.

Other objects andparticular advantages of the invention will be suggested in the course of the following description.

One manner of carrying out the principles and objects of my invention in a practical way is shown in the accompanying.

' drawings, in which 'Figurel is a plan View showing my tent with the top or cover removed, and showing the interior arrangement thereof, also showing an open grave, with the usual frame or run-boards therearound, and showing the location of the earth removed, from the grave opening. 7

Figure 2 is a cross section of the'same, the same being taken through the grave and the earth which has been removed.

Figure '3 is a perspective detail showing the manner of hanging the curtains or side walls and other parts. Figure 4 is a per spective view of the upper portion of one of the supporting posts, showing the manner of detachably connecting the'curtain sup porting means. I t

Figure 5 shows one edge portion of certain of the curtains which are provided with revolvable heads for securing certain parts together. Figure 6 shows a curtain edge which is opposite to that shown in Fig. '5, which latter is provided with slotted eyes to receive said heads. Figure '7v is a side elevation of one of said revolvable heads in elevation. And Fig. 8 is a perspective view the extension.

Similar indices denotelike parts through- 1926. Serial No. 126,147.

of portions ofa side curtain and the top of out the several views.

In order that'the construction, the operation, and the several advantages of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a de-' tailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as comprehensively as I ma n the drawings letter A denotes the ground line or surface, which is usually covered with natural grass. Letter B denotes a grave, which has been excavated to the proper depth, and it is of the usualrdimensions. Letters C, D, 'E and F denote the four run-boards, which surround the grave and rest on the surface A, in the usual manner. And H denotes the soil which has been removed. The main portion of my tent ineludes the corner posts 1, 2, 3 and 4:, and the intermediate posts 5 and 6, all of which are identical with each other. Each of said posts has a pintle 7 extending upward from the center of the upper end thereof.

Connecting each two of said posts is a rope or cable. Therope 8 connecting the posts 1 and 2; the rope 9 connecting the posts '2 and 6; the rope 10, connecting the posts '6 and 3; the rope 11, connecting the posts 3 and 4;the rope 12, connecting the posts 4' and 5; and the rope 13, connecting the posts 5 and 1. 1 A ring 14 is secured on each end of each of said ropes, which rings are adapted to surround the respective pintles 7 and rest on the ends of the respective posts, as shown in Fig. 4. 7

Each of the posts 1, 2, 6, 3, and 4 is provided with a guy-rope 15, which extend downward at an angle to the ground, where whereby said curtains are suspended, ex-

tending to the ground A.

The adjoining edges of each two of said curtains are adapted to be 7 connected by. snaps or a head and eye, shown in Figs. 5,

6 and 7.

spective curtains, where they are detachably secured in any well known manner, as

by said heads and eyes. Theroof issupported by the center pole 24,,frorn which it slopes downward in each direction.

All of said parts may be constructed and arranged as desired, as I make no "claim' thereto, and am not to be limited thereb'y' The invention proper resides in that .which I will 'now describe, and comprises the followingi Numeral 26 denotes an angularly disposed curtain or cover, the same having a plurality of hooks 27 identical withthe hooks 22, secured to'its upper inner edge and adapted to be engaged over the rope 13, with the member 26 extending between the posts 1 and '5, with its edges adapted to be detachably connected with the edges of the curtains 17 and 21. Saidcurtain and cover is identical with the curtain 25, except that it is longer, whereby its lower outer edge will reach the groundA at a considerable distance fromthe curtain 25, as in Fig. 2. The curtain cover 26 is provided with triangular end members 28' and 29, whose angular upper edges are permanently secured to the end edges of the member 26, and in the junctures of the edges of the members28 and 29 with the member 26 the respective ropes 30 and 31 are secured, which ropes extend beyond the mein ber 26 at both the top and the bottom. The

upper ends of each of the ropes 30 and 31 are provided with a ring 32 t0 fit over a pintle 7 and their lower ends are adapted to be secured to their respective stakes 33 and 34, as shown in Fig. 1

By the above it will be seen that I pro-' vide an auxiliary room off one side of the main portion of the tent.

Numeral denotes'a fabric floor for said auxiliary room, and it lies loosely on the grass, extending between the ends 28 and 29, and its inner edge extends under the run-board G, and its outer edge is provided with swivel-headed fasteners 36, which when turned horizontal Wlll enter the respec tive eyes 37, then when the heads are turned vertically the members 26 and 35. will be secured together, as in Fig.2. g

By the removal of curtain 25 the auxilweather conditions.

After all of the earth H has been removed .to-form the grave :B then the curtain 25 is placed in position to cut oil the auxiliary roorn from the main room, wherebv the re- Numeral 23 denotes the roof, whose lower edges extend over the upper edges'of the re moved soilwill not be seen. The soil thus placed on the floor 35 will be entirely out muddy in the event of. rain, and the grass thereunder will be protected, 'as the soil will be excavated for [only a short time.

After the interment the curtain 25 canrbe removed and the soil, can be shovele'd back;

into the grave, during whichtheworkmen will be protected from the weatherg, This arrangement, will also prevent any (wate washing the soil into the grave after it has been removed. And furthermore no suggestion of a pile of soil will be visible du'rf,

ing the interment.

It is of course to of said sides, the top, and the floor 35, are of fabric construction, the various parts being separable with relation to each other, and the entireconstruction can be rolled'up into a small compass of space for transportation or storage, to be used when required.

I desire that it be understood that various changesmaybe madein the several details of construction and operation without. departing from the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing: any of the advantages thereof whichare new anduseful.

be understood that all Having now fully shown and describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 'is- 1. In combination with the main portion of a tent, an auxiliary apartment formed by a curtain cover extending from the eve of one side ofthe main tent at. an angle to near the surface of the ground, ends connected to saidcurtaincover, afabricfioor for the auxiliary apartment, means for connecting the outer edge of said floor to the lower edge of said cover, the auxiliary compartment being adapted to be opened into the interior of the main tent or to be separated therefromby the removal or the placing in position of a section of the wall of the main tent. g V

2. Infcombination with a main tent having a curtain portion adapted to be opened, and-closed, a tabrlc extension for the main tent "comprising a top member extending at an angle outward and downward from above said curtain portion to near the ground, ends secured to the ends of said to member and extending to near the grouns and to the main tent on each side of said curtain extension, a floor for said extension, the same extending inside the main tent through the opening which is adapted to be closed by said curtain member, means for detachably securing the lower edge of the top and the lower edges of the ends to said floor, means for detachably securing the in- 10 ner edges of said ends to the main tent, and means for detachably securing the lower edge of the to to the round.

AMES DODDRIDGE. 

